VERICOM - Smart Metering via Mesh-Network Topology

VERICOM-Smart metering solution

VERICOM radio mesh-network is an independent, proven and interoperable smart metering solution based on fully bi-directional, battery-operated SubGHz radio infrastructure, built to collect data from all meters and measurement devices from all medias (such as: electricity, gas, water, heat and cooling). VERICOM radio nodes are “meter independent” and communicate with different meter makes and meter types.

VERICOM product-video

Customer success story

SOXIS, a system integrator for telemetry systems, operating mainly in Latin America, faced the challenge to implement a smart metering system for all energy medias (electricity, gas, water) for the major energy-provider in Latin America.

“We were looking for a reliable Partner with a “plug and play” solution based on a proven technology”, so Matias Spitzer, Managing Director.

“A particular problem of the area is the fact that we need to cover inaccessible sites and specific challenges in relation of energy theft and a high rate of water leakages.

With VERAUTs radio mesh-network solution “VERICOM”, we are able to read, manage and store 100% of all our meters hourly.”

This major step toward to a quality approved and leading wireless smart grid process improved not only the communication to the end-customer, as well it improved the energy efficiency for the benefit of the environment and the economy.”

How it works?

Functionality of mesh-network technology.

VERICOM mesh-network is based on bi-directional communication technology receiving and forwarding data and operating independently from one another. Each radio node can act as an independent router within the network.

If a meter (VERICOM radio node) is removed, the network will automatically re-route the data communication. When added to a network, a meter (radio node) will automatically be activated and help with the routing process.

A mesh-network is self-healing, regardless of disruptions in communication routes, the network automatically maintains a high and stable performance no matter how many radio nodes are added, removed or repositioned within the mesh-network. The mesh-network is considered to be very reliable because it works with several communication paths between source and destination address.

With a few components and dynamic routing, the wireless mesh-network is quick and easy to use and more cost-effective than other communication systems. The communication paths in a wireless mesh-network overcome the physical boundaries of a traditionally wired system such as PLC (powerline communication), which increases the range even in harsh environments.

In standard operation VERICOM radio nodes read out the meter at the full hour (in real-time) and transmit this meter index/values immediately to the VERICOM data-concentrator. From VERICOM data-concentrator all collected data of VERICOM radio mesh-network nodes are transmitted via cellular/mobile (3G-UMTS / 4G-LTE) communication to customer's IT-system.

VERICOM radio nodes are based in license free SubGHz-ISM-bandwidth and operate with ultra-low power energy management for several years with a single lithium battery. The range in urban areas is up to 1500 meters in rural areas up to 5000 meters (30 dB / 1 Watt radio output power). Nevertheless each VERICOM wireless radio node is automatically - due to its mesh-network functionality - a distance extender.

VERICOM radio communication is reliable safe, each communication telegram is encrypted by advanced encryption standard AES-128.

How to connect to external device (meter) ?

VERICOM mesh-network solution is meter independent, therefor each radio node is able to read-out any implemented meter make or meter type.

VERICOM solution does offer lots of hardware interfaces to connect to external devices, such as: